There has been some surprising news recently: two former Real Madrid stars, Luis Figo and Sami Khedira, have publicly expressed their support for Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Despite his young age, Yamal has been in outstanding form this season. He has scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists, helping Barcelona win three domestic titles: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
During an event in Munich, Figo spoke to GOAL. He said, “If Yamal can continue to work hard and maintain his current form, his future is definitely something to look forward to.”
Another former Real Madrid player, Sami Khedira, went even further, stating that he believes Yamal is one of the best players in this season’s Champions League and is fully deserving of being a top contender for the Ballon d’Or.
At present, Yamal’s biggest rival in the Ballon d’Or race is likely to be Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé recently helped his team win the Champions League, and his coach, Luis Enrique, has publicly stated that Dembélé is the most likely candidate to win this prestigious individual award in football.
Interestingly, Yamal and Dembélé will face off in a Nations League semifinal on Thursday night, representing their respective national teams—Spain against France. The outcome of this match will determine who advances to the final to face either Germany or Portugal. For Yamal, this presents another excellent opportunity to showcase his abilities.
Since Barcelona is not participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, Yamal will also get a rare break. This is a crucial adjustment period for the young player.